Rockhampton performing arts students are helping to prepare a schools-tour adaptation of the acclaimed Australian play ‘Kingswood Kids’, which examines the impact of poverty on children and families.

The CQU Bachelor of Performing Arts students are adapting the work with Brisbane-based scriptwriter Angela Betzien and director Leticia Caceres, who have developed and presented professional seasons of the play (including for La Boite Theatre). Ms Betzien is a former Gracemere resident.

The schools-tour version of the play will be road-tested by audiences of school children at Yeppoon High School.

BPA drama lecturer Howard Cassidy said the original dark, adult text was being developed for audiences of upper-primary and lower-secondary school students.

He said the touring production would eventually be presented by two actors playing multiple roles, to make it cost-effective.

Kingswood Kids examines the issues of poverty from a situation where kids are left stranded in a casino carpark.

Angela Betzien was once described by David Williamson as a “formidable talent” and is a multi award-winning playwright who received the George Landen Dann award in 1999.

In that year, Robyn Nevin invited her to be Writer in Residence for Queensland Theatre Company.

In 2000, Angela received a Lord Mayor’s Fellowships to complete a residency with the Royal Court Theatre in London.

Angela’s work has received several professional and independent productions, including Dog Wins Lotto (Queensland Theatre Company, 1997) Playboy of the Working Class (Queensland Theatre Company, 2001) The Kingswood Kids (La Boite Theatre, 2002) and The Orphanage Project (Queens land Theatre Company, 2003). Angela is also a teacher of writing and a tutor at Queensland University of Technology.

She is a member of the Queensland Theatre Company Board.

Leticia Caceres was born in Cordoba, Argentina and immigrated to Australia in 1991.

Leticia works in Brisbane as a director, a dramaturg and acting teacher.

She completed her tertiary education (BA Hons) at Queensland University of Technology in 1999 where she received a First Class Honours for her performance research on the tools for producing effective political theatre.

In 2000 Leticia was granted a nine-month mentorship with Queensland Theatre Company Artistic Director Michael Gow through the Youth Arts Queensland Mentorship Program to assist her professional development in directing.

Late in 2000 Leticia co-founded the company Real TV with writer Angela Betzien and electronic composer Pete Goodwin. Her directing credits include:.

 The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare Festival, USQ, 2005).

 Far Away By Caryl Churchill (Queensland Theatre Company, 2004).

 Something to Declare by Michael Gurr (Actors for Refugees, 2004).

 Children of the Black Skirt by Angela Betzien (Queensland Arts Council, 2003,2004).

 The Orphanage Project by Angela Betzien (Queensland Theatre Company, 2003).

 The Kingswood Kids by Angela Betzien (La Boite Theatre, 2002) .

 Princess of Suburbia by Angela Betzien (Real TV, 2001).

In addition, Leticia has taught and directed at Queensland University of Technology and has collaborated with most theatre companies in Brisbane including, DeBASE Productions, Backbone youth Arts, Rock and Roll Circus, and Vena Cava. In 2003, Leticia was Inter Director for Queensland Theatre Company and in 2004, Leticia held the position of Associate Director for Queensland Theatre Company.

Photo: (from left) BPA student Nathan O’Connor, visiting mentor Leticia Caceres, BPA student Tessa Coulter, BPA student Maia Kerrie, visiting mentor Angela Betzien and CQU drama lecturer Howard Cassidy (checked shirt).